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GREEDY SAM GAMBLES FOR THE BIG TIME

EXIT DOOR: Allardyce had burnt his bridges at Bolton

Tuesday May 1,2007

By Harry Harris

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SAM Allardyce’s eight-year reign at The Reebok Stadium will be remembered for the way he hurried out of the back door without proper appreciation for the wonderful job he did for Bolton.

Big Sam transformed Bolton on a modest budget, but always fell short of pushing the club into the Champions League elite.

After being overlooked for the England post, Allardyce knew it was time to move on to a bigger club to prove his credentials.

This column revealed two months ago that Allardyce was seeking a new opportunity and looking for the exit door at Bolton.

But the manner in which Allardyce walked out, two matches before the end of the season, leaves behind more questions than answers.

Allardyce has opted out, so far, from giving his version of the events leading up to his departure which was revealed on the morning of last Saturday’s Chelsea match.

The Bolton supporters have lost a fine manager

After an approach by the Ray Ranson group touting for control of Manchester City, Big Sam had burned his bridges with Bolton chairman Phil Gartside.

There was the threat of the ludicrous pretence of Allardyce taking either gardening leave, or leave of his senses, as
he prepared to miss the match at Stamford Bridge, until he was “advised” to attend.

Effectively, Allardyce tendered his resignation on Friday, although it was not formally and publicly accepted until Sunday once the Bolton board knew the game was up and that Allardyce’s courtship with Ranson and his pals was the hot gossip.

That Allardyce has pinned his hopes on the City job behind Stuart Pearce’s back is bad enough.

But the possibility of the Ranson takeover now failing to go through makes him look a touch eager for the bigger pay cheque as well as the club with the greater potential.

As Little Sammy Lee steps into Big Sam’s shoes there also remains the question of transfer irregularities.

Gartside promised a full internal enquiry when Panorama picked up on the Allardyce father-son connection in Bolton transfer deals, but so far there has been silence.

Within a matter of weeks Lord Stevens’ Quest investigators will name Craig Allardyce as one of the agents who they suspect of foul play. It will not look good on Big Sam’s CV.

But overall, Allardyce has been a monumental success at Bolton. And for the fans that is all that matters.

The Bolton supporters have lost a fine manager, certainly the best boss for a club like Bolton.